TV Review: FEARnet’s “REAPER REUNION SPECIAL”

There’s a certain feeling that comes along with reuniting with old friends, whether you knew them in person, or vicariously through a film or TV series. After a show has been cancelled, and those stories are forced to just live on via syndication or DVD Boxsets, there’s a bummer of a mood that comes with not being able to see anything new from those characters that you followed for however many seasons the show went on. Luckily, for fans of the late REAPER TV series, the chance to catch up begins May 28 on FEARnet (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.). Having already had the chance to see the reunion special, I can say, fans will be pleased, as the cast (and creators) of the hilarious show come together to reminisce about their experiences with REAPER, telling stories and giving insight to why they feel the show has caught on with fans, even after its cancellation.

One of the things about REAPER that made me excited to watch it, was the role of The Devil, played by Ray Wise (TWIN PEAKS, ROBOCOP, THE AGGRESSION SCALE). When actors portray the big guy downstairs, they always run the risk of going way too far with it, but Wise’s Devil was always calm and even funny at times. In the reunion special, Ray says that he loved making the show, and that he actually misses the character, and as the whole cast agrees, that he would be open to returning if the show ever found a way to come back. Another great touch to the reunion, is the fact that Wise even wears his original tie from the show, it’s obvious his portrayal of The Devil is close to his heart.

One of the best parts of the special, is when the cast recollects their favorite episodes and times had on set, such as when Tyler Labine recalls the episode where Sock, Sam and Ben get drunk together, and Labine mentions that he still has the photo from that episode on his phone.

All in all, it’s a really great way to catch up with the cast, for anyone who loved the show and felt that it was pulled way to soon (like myself), and an even better way to let potential new viewers see what’s in store for them, when FEARnet brings the entire run of the show back, beginning Tuesday, June 4 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT). I don’t know about you Fright Fiends, but I’ll be watching, with my trusty devil red Dirt Devil by my side.